Air Quality Management

The council has a legal duty to assess airborne pollution in the borough (as stated in Part IV of the Environment Act 1995) which is carried out by the Environmental Health Team. Since 1998, we've been monitoring the quality of the air to make sure it reaches the Government's national standard. A summary of our monitoring is included in our Annual Status Report (ASR).

Background

The quality of air across the majority of Hastings & St Leonards reaches the national standard. However, on a small part of the Bexhill road, levels of Particulate Matter (PM) were historically above the required standard and as a result, an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) was declared and an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) prepared.

PM is a very fine dust and comes from industry, various road traffic debris, sea salt and biological particles.

However, since 2011 PM concentrations have reduced and have remained below annual air quality limit values. Additionally the Bexhill to Hastings Link road opened in 2015, as detailed in our AQAP, has helped improve air quality in this area further. Therefore the AQMA was revoked earlier this year.

Air Quality Monitoring

The quality of the air in the borough is being monitored automatically, 24 hours a day, by our monitoring station HT1. The results from the static roadside monitors are fed via a modem to Kings College London for analysis. Environmental Health officers undertake a monthly pre calibration check, change the particulate monitor filter and undertake a post calibration check, on both pieces of equipment and send this report to Kings College London via email.

The static road side air quality monitor (HT1) contains a TAP 200 series Nox Analyser, which measures levels of Nitrogen dioxide (No2) and the oxides of Nitrogen(NOX) and a Thermo Teom 1400 Particulate Matter (Pm10) which performs a filter based direct mass measurement for determining particulate matter mass concentrations.

Additionally there are 14 lamp post mounted Nitrogen Dioxide measurement tubes which are replaced monthly, again by Environmental Health Officers, and are situated in various locations throughout the borough. These tubes measure background levels of Nitrogen Dioxide to assist in the overall monitoring of the Borough air quality.

Air Quality Strategy

Future developments and initiatives are also planned including the opening of the Queensway Gateway Road and the proposed dedicated bus lane along the A259. These measures are predicted to improve the flow of traffic and therefore further support and enhance air quality improvements.

Following revocation of the AQMA and the completion of these projects we will review our air quality monitoring, as part of an air quality strategy, to reflect these changes and to ensure that the quality of air within the borough meets the Government's national standard.

Air Alerts and Live Air Quality Results & Advice

For further information regarding air quality you can sign up to Air Alerts to let you know when poorer air is predicted across the region.